who inhabited there。 For not only by carrying along with him a
thousand fresh citizens of Athens he gave new strength and vigour to
the cities； but also by belting the neck of land； which joins the
peninsula to the continent； with bulwarks and forts from sea to sea；
he put a stop to the inroads of the Thracians； who lay all about the
Chersonese； and closed the door against a continual and grievous
war； with which that country had been long harassed； lying exposed
to the encroachments and influx of barbarous neighbours； and
groaning under the evils of a predatory population both upon and
within its borders。
Nor was he less admired and talked of abroad for his sailing
around the Peloponnesus； having set out from Pegae； or The
Fountains； the port of Megara； with a hundred galleys。 For he not only
laid waste the sea…coast； as Tolmides had done before； but also；
advancing far up into the mainland with the soldiers he had on
board； by the terror of his appearance drove many within their
walls； and at Nemea； with main force； routed and raised a trophy
over the Sicyonians； who stood their ground and joined battle with
him。 And having taken on board a supply of soldiers into the galleys
out of Achaia； then in league with Athens； he crossed with the fleet
to the opposite continent； and； sailing along by the mouth of the
river Achelous； overran Acarnania and shut up the Oeniadae within
their city walls； and having ravaged and wasted their country； weighed
anchor for home with the double advantage of having shown himself
formidable to his enemies； and at the same time safe and energetic
to his fellow citizens； for there was not so much as any chance
miscarriage that happened； the whole voyage through； to those who were
under his charge。
Entering also the Euxine Sea with a large and finely equipped fleet；
he obtained for the Greek cities any new arrangements they wanted； and
entered into friendly relations with them； and to the barbarous
nations； and kings and chiefs round about them； displayed the
greatness of the power of the Athenians； their perfect ability avid
confidence to sail where…ever they had a mind； and to bring the
whole sea under their control。 He left the Sinopians thirteen ships of
war； with soldiers under the command of Lamachus； to assist them
against Timesileus the tyrant； and when he and his accomplices had
been thrown out； obtained a decree that six hundred of the Athenians
that were willing should sail to Sinope and plant themselves there
with the Sinopians； sharing among them the houses and land which the
tyrant and his party had previously held。
But in other things he did not comply with the giddy impulses of the
citizens； nor quit his own resolutions to follow their fancies；
when； carried away with the thought of their strength and great
success； they were eager to interfere again in Egypt； and to disturb
the King of Persia's maritime dominions。 Nay； there were a good many
who were； even then； possessed with that unblest and inauspicious
passion for Sicily； which afterward the orators of Alcibiades's
party blew up into a flame。 There were some also who dreamt of Tuscany
and Carthage； and not without plausible reason in their present
large dominion and prosperous course of their affairs。
But Pericles curbed this passion for foreign conquest； and
unsparingly pruned and cut down their ever busy fancies for a
multitude of undertakings； and directed their power for the most
part to securing and consolidating what they had already got；
supposing it would be quite enough for them to do； if they could
keep the Lacedaemonians in check； to whom he entertained all along a
sense of opposition； which； as upon many other occasions； so he
particularly showed by what he did in the time of the holy war。 The
Lacedaemonians； having gone with an army to Delphi； restored
Apollo's temple； which the Phocians had got into their possession；
to the Delphians； immediately after their departure； Pericles； with
another army； came and restored the Phocians。 And the
Lacedaemonians； having engraven the record of their privilege of
consulting the oracle before others； which the Delphians gave them；
upon the forehead of the brazen wolf which stands there； he； also；
having received from the Phocians the like privilege for the
Athenians； had it cut upon the same wolf of brass on his right side。
That he did well and wisely in thus restraining the exertions of the
Athenians within the compass of Greece； the events themselves that
happened afterward bore sufficient witness。 For； in the first place；
the Euboeans revolted； against whom he passed over with forces； and
then； immediately after； news came that the Megarians were turned
their enemies； and a hostile army was upon the borders of Attica；
under the conduct of Plistoanax； King of the Lacedaemonians。 Wherefore
Pericles came with his army back again in all haste out of Euboea；
to meet the war which threatened at home； and did not venture to
engage a numerous and brave army eager for battle； but perceiving that
Plistoanax was a very young man； and governed himself mostly by the
counsel and advice of Cleandrides； whom the ephors had sent with
him； by reason of his youth； to be a kind of guardian and assistant to
him； he privately made trial of this man's integrity； and； in a
short time； having corrupted him with money； prevailed with him to
withdraw the Peloponnesians out of Attica。 When the army had retired
and dispersed into their several states； the Lacedaemonians in anger
fined their king in so large a sum of money； that； unable to pay it；
he quitted Lacedaemon； while Cleandrides fled； and had sentence of
death passed upon him in his absence。 This was the father of Gylippus；
who overpowered the Athenians in Sicily。 And it seems that this
covetousness was an hereditary disease transmitted from father to son；
for Gylippus also afterwards was caught in foul practices； and
expelled from Sparta for it。 But this we have told at large in the
account of Lysander。
When Pericles； in giving up his accounts of this expedition；
stated a disbursement of ten talents； as laid out upon fit occasion；
the people； without any question； nor troubling themselves to
investigate the mystery； freely allowed of it。 And some historians； in
which number is Theophrastus the philosopher； have given it as a truth
that Pericles every year used to send privately the sum of ten talents
to Sparta； with which he complimented those in office； to keep off the
war； not to purchase peace neither； but time； that he might prepare at
leisure； and be the better able to carry on war hereafter。
Immediately after this； turning his forces against the revolters；
and passing over into the island of Euboea with fifty sail of ships
and five thousand men in arms； he reduced their cities； and drove
out the citizens of the Chalcidians； called Hippobotae； horse…feeders；
the chief persons for wealth and reputation among them； and removing
all the Histiaeans out of the country； brought in a plantation of
Athenians in their room； making them his one example of severity；
because they had captured an Attic ship and killed all on board。
After this； having made a truce between the Athenians and
Lacedaemonians for thirty years； he ordered； by public decree； the
expedition against the isle of Samos； on the ground； that； when they
were bid to leave off their war with the Milesians they had not
complied。 And as these measures against the Samians are thought to
have been taken to please Aspasia； this may be a fit point for inquiry
about the woman； what art or charming faculty she had that enabled her
to captivate； as she did； the greatest statesmen； and to give the
philosophers occasion to speak so much about her； and that； too； not
to her disparagement。 That she was a Milesian by birth； the daughter
of Axiochus； is a thing acknowledged。 And they say it was in emulation
of Thargelia； a courtesan of the old Ionian times； that she made her
addresses to men of great power。 Thargelia was a great beauty；
extremely charming； and at the same time sagacious； she had numerous
suitors among the Greeks； and brought all who had to do with her
over to the Persian interest； and by their means； being men of the
greatest power and station； sowed the seeds of the Median faction up
and down in several cities。 Aspasia； some say； was courted and
caressed by Pericles upon account of her knowledge and skill in
politics。 Socrates himself would sometimes go to visit her； and some
of his acquaintance with him； and those who frequented her company
would carry their wives with them to listen to her。 Her occupation was
anything but creditable； her house being a home for young
courtesans。 Aeschines tells us； also； that Lysicles； a sheep…dealer； a
man of low birth and character； by keeping Aspasia company after
Pericles's death； came to be a chief man in Athens。 And in Plato's
Menexenus； though we do not take the introduction as quite serious；
still thus much seems to be historical； that she had the repute of
being resorted to by many of the Athenians for instruction in the
art of speaking。 Pericles's inclination for her seems； however； to
have rather proceeded from the passion of love。 He had a wife that was
near of kin to him； who had been married first to Hipponicus； by
whom she had Callias； surnamed the Rich； and also she brought
Pericles； while she lived with him； two sons； Xanthippus and
Paralus。 Afterwards； when they did not well agree； nor like to live
together； he parted with her； with her own consent； to another man；
and himself took Aspasia； and loved her with wonderful affection；
every day； both as he went out and as he came in from the
market…place； he saluted and kissed her。
In the comedies she goes by the nicknames of the new Omphale and
Deianira； and again is styled Juno。 Cratinus； in downright terms；
calls her a harlot。
〃To find him a Juno the goddess of lust
Bore that harlot past shame；
Aspasia by name。〃
It should seem also that he had a son by her； Eupolis； in his Demi；
introduced Pericles asking after his safety； and Myronides replying…
〃My son？〃 〃He lives： a man he h